Shirley
Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery,” is a perfect example of the ‘tribal’
nature of any small community. The community in this story is content with
their ways and with having their yearly “lottery.” There is talk “that over in
the north village they’re talking of giving up the lottery” (Jackson 294),
however no one is actually planning on any sort of rebellion or change. I think
this is true for most small communities, especially extremely small ones. Small
communities are less willing to follow through with change. I think this is for
the reason that most people have chosen to live in their small communities and
therefore, like it the way it is. They do not want it to change for reasons
such as it may get bigger, more dangerous, and/or more expensive. Old Man Warner,
after the thought of giving up the lottery comes up, states “First thing you
know we’d all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There’s always been a lottery” (294).
The
first thing I thought of while reading this short story was “The Hunger Games”
trilogy, where a number of districts choose a female and male, both under the
age of eighteen, to battle to the death. This is supposed to serve as a
reminder to the districts that the State has and always will have the power to
do whatever they want. However, after class yesterday, I thought of a
television show I’ve recently become obsessed with, Sons of Anarchy. In this show the motorcycle club, Sons of Anarchy,
take a lot of pride in their little town and pretty much run things the way
they want. The community doesn’t challenge them or try to get them out of their
town. The club sells guns to local gangs and transports drugs for a cartel.
Many deaths have been the result of their “jobs.” In the beginning seasons, the
town police officer was on their payroll, making it easy for them to get away
with murder. I think some of the community felt safe knowing the club was there
protecting their club, however some were probably scared to challenge them. I
think this is much like “The Lottery.” Some of the community would probably
like to give up the lottery but don’t want to challenge anyone’s authority or
tradition and some of the community, like Old Man Warner, thinks giving up the
lottery would be suicide.
